Blends and digraphs phonics worksheets
Aligned with Common Core RF.1.3a
Printable phonics worksheets for first grade blends and digraphs: sh ch th wh pictures, fill in the digraph, fill in the blend, sort words and read sentences.
The worksheets
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Digraph and Blend Chart
The four digraphs and fourteen blends, each with a picture, on one page.
Digraph Pictures
Eight pictures with sh, ch, th or wh at the start or end of the word.
Fill in the Digraph
Ten picture words with the digraph missing at the start or end.
Fill in the Blend
Ten picture words that start with a blend like cr, st, fl or sw.
Digraph Sort
Twelve words to sort by digraph.
Which Word Fits?
Ten sentences with a missing blend or digraph word and two choices.
Color by Digraph
A hidden picture made of words with sh, ch, th, wh and ck. Includes an answer key.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
A digraph is two letters that make one new sound, like sh in ship, ch in chair, th in thumb and wh in whale. A blend is two letters next to each other where you still hear both sounds, like cr in crab or st in star. First graders learn to read and spell both. Blends and digraphs are the next step in phonics after short vowel words.
What comes next
Silent e, where a final e makes the vowel say its name.
How to teach it
- Teach digraphs as a team. s and h together say /sh/, not /s/ /h/.
- Use a hand motion: finger to lips for sh, a train sound for ch, tongue peeking out for th.
- For blends, stretch both sounds: ssss-tar. Then push them together faster.
- Look for digraphs and blends in books you read together.
Common mistakes
- Reading digraph letters separately, like /s/ /h/ /i/ /p/ for ship.
- Mixing up ch and sh. Have your child feel the puff of air on ch.
- Dropping the second letter of a blend, like reading sed for sled.
- Saying f for th (fumb for thumb). That's common and usually fades with practice.